New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-04-20
An English View of American
Character.

That submission to the will OF the
majority which is incalculated by DEM
ocratic institutions has exercised
marked influence upon the social no
less than upon the political life or the
people of the United States, save IN
the late slave States. It has not only
had the result of preventing the de-
velopment OF individuality OF char
acter, but likewise has considerably
modified that obstinacy of temper and
dogged tenacity Of opinion which are
to be found in the Anglo-Saxon race.
The late Lord Beaconsfeld on one
occasion said in the House of Com
mons that gentleman who had spent
several years in America had declared
to him that it was his belief that 'tho
citizens OF the repu bile were the NEST
tractable people in the world, and the
readiest open to conviction by argu-
ment"
In the United States. the absence OF
thatsegregation Of thevarious gradesof
society which exist in Europe is evinc-
ed by the habits and manners OF the
masses in that country. II the ma
tional independence Of character be
occasionally pushed too far, and de-
generate into offensive self-assertion,
at least it prevents any approach to
servility. No inequality OF position
or circumstances will induce a native
OF any of the Northern States to sub.
or spoken to in the tone which, in
England, the man in broadcloth too
frequently adopts, as a matter OF
course, toward the man in fustian.
The late Sydney Godolphin Osborne
used to relate how, once, respectable
artisan said to him: "Ilikeyou, my
lord; there is nothing Of the
gentleman about you.' The meaning
OF the speaker was undoubtedly that
Lord Osborne did not treat him in the
patronizing manner that members OF
the higher class usually address those
whom they regard as their social infe.
rlors. Now, no one perhaps has a
keener appreciation Of the advantages
OF wealth and education than the
American; but the possessor of them
should feel himself justified in using
towards the man who lacks these adj
ventitious gifts the language Of a SUI
| perior to an inferior, is what he can.
not understand, and which he will not
for one moment put up with. In fact,
the dlscourtesy, and even rudeness. OF
which some travellers in the United
States complain have arisen from the
fact OF their failing to appreciate the
difference existing between the social
systems OF that country and their
own.
The wide gulf in culture which in
England separates the upper and
middle classes from the lower orders,
does no exist in America. This has
arisen from various causes. In the
first place, the great bulk Of the poe
pie the Union are much better edu-
Gated than is as yet the case in this
country. The admirable system of
common or, as they are termed, pub
lie" schools which prevails in America
affords facilities for all children OBJ
tanning a sound English education
without the payment by their parents
OF any school fees, and at a trihiny
cost to the taxpayer in all sections of
the Union, and especially in the West
where large grants have been made
OF the State lands in support of the pub
lie schools. In the second place, the
social status Of the working classes
has been raised by the fact that the
Americans are almost exclusively en-
gagged in avocations demanding intel
ligence and skilled labor. This has
been owing to the circumstance that
upon the colored population and the
Irish and German immigrants have
devolvedt those coarse and irksome
occupations which haveto be followed
by a portion of the inhabitants OF 9TH
er countries. To give one instance Of
this alone, it may be stated thatrare-
ly is a native American citizen, man
OF woman. found occupying the posi-
ton as a domestic servant in any At.
lantic oities.-Chambers's Journal.
The Commune OfParis.
But few fannle are f1lllu a MO ra Of +hn